RFID DEVICES AND METHODS FOR OVERLAPPED OBJECTS

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention is in the field of radio frequency identification (RFID) devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0002] Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and labels (collectively referred to herein as "devices") are widely used to associate an object with an identification code or other information. For example, RFID tags are used in conjunction with security locks in cars, for access control to buildings, and for tracking inventory and parcels. RFID devices generally have a combination of antennas and analog and/or digital electronics, which may include for example communications electronics, data memory, and control logic.

[0003] As noted above, RFID devices are generally categorized as labels or tags. RFID labels are RFID devices that are adhesively or otherwise have a surface attached directly to objects. RFID tags, in contrast, are secured to objects by other means, for example by use of a plastic fastener, string or other fastening means.

[0004] One possible concern in using RFID devices is that devices may undesirably interact with one another when the devices are close together. It will be appreciated that reducing or eliminating such effects may be desirable.

[0005] EP 0 997 842 A2 discloses an IC card in which for example, even if a state should occur in which a plurality of IC cards are piled up in any direction for use, a received signal is not greatly lowered but a normal usage pattern is secured. When the IC cards are piled up with the contours united, a projection drawing of an antenna of one IC card to an antenna surface of the other IC card has an area not overlapped at least 15% or more of an area having an antenna to the other antenna surface on the projection surface and the IC card can work.

[0006] EP 1 370 007 A2 discloses a radio card wherein corresponding unit radio cards do not have their antennas matched in configuration position to each other even if these unit radio cards are placed one over the other by inverting one relative to the other in a right/left inversion relation and in a top/down inversion relation or turning one through an angle of 180 degrees relative to the other.

[0007] JP 2001 319202 A discloses a non-contact IC card having a circular external form and which can be stuck to a postcard while being suitably rotated. Therefore, the position of an antenna changes corresponding to the rotating angle of the non- contact IC card. When simultaneously reading/writing plural non-contact IC cards while using the IC card reader/writer, by generating a magnetic field by the IC card reader/writer, a current flows to the antenna and this current is supplied to an IC chip so that read/write operation can be started. In that case, since the mutual inductance of an antenna can be reduced, power can be efficiently generated and collective read or write operation can be surely performed.

[0008] JP 2000 222542 A discloses a non-contact IC card wherein interference to mutual receiving states is prevented by shaping an antenna so as not to overlap at a linear part as much as possible when two antennas are overlapped with one upside down. In particular, when a straight line connecting both the ends of coil parts is defined as an X axis and a direction vertical to the X axis is defined as a Y axis, the coil parts are formed asymmetric to the X axis and asymmetric to the Y axis as well. Further, when the coil parts are bisected from the center of X-axis direction, the coil parts cross the straight line, one part exists in the first or second quadrant and the other part exists in the third or fourth quadrant. In order to enhance the asymmetry of Y-axis direction, it is desired even number of peak values exist, and when the coil parts are bisected from the center of X-axis direction, it is desired that the peak values of the same number exist in the two parts.

[0009] US 2003/136503 A1 discloses an RFID webstock containing a relatively high pitch-density array of semiconductive chips which is joined to a web bearing relatively widely spaced antennas in a continuous process. The RFID webstock is separated or cut into individual chip sections, with the spacing of the chips being increased as the RFID webstock is die cut. The individual chips on the sections are then joined to corresponding antennas to form an RFID inlay stock. This process is conducive to high speed roll-to-roll production of RFID tag and label roll stock.

[0010] US 2007/216534 A1 discloses a radio frequency identification (RIFD) inlay including an electrical connection between a chip and an antenna. The electrical connection includes conductive interposer leads and a capacitive connection. The capacitive connection may involve putting the antenna and the interposer leads into close proximity, with dielectric pads therebetween, to allow capacitive coupling between the antenna and the interposer leads. The dielectric pads may include a non-conductive adhesive and a high dielectric material, such as a titanium oxide. The connections provide a convenient, fast, and effective way to operatively couple antennas and interposers. The RFID inlay may be part of an RFID label or RFID tag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0012] According to an example, different overlapping radio frequency identification (RFID) devices on overlapping objects have different antenna configurations. The different antenna configurations reduce near field interactions between the RFID devices while maintaining the far field readability of the RFID devices.

[0013] According to an aspect of the invention, a method mechanically coupling RFID devices with a plurality of objects includes the steps of: placing respective RFID devices on the objects; and aligning the objects in an overlapping configuration. The aligning causes the RFID devices to overlap each other. Adjacent of the overlapped RFID devices have different antenna configurations from one another.

[0014] According to yet another aspect of the invention, an RFID device web or sheet includes multiple RFID devices. Each of the RFID devices has an antenna-receiving position at the same relative antenna location. Adjacent of the RFID devices include different antenna configurations that each substantially fill the antenna-receiving positions.

[0015] According to still another aspect of the invention, a group of RDFI-tagged objects includes multiple of the objects that overlap one another. The objects have respective radio frequency identification (RFID) devices mechanically coupled to them. The RFID devices overlap one another. At least some of the RFID devices have different antenna configurations than other of the RFID devices.

[0016] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In the annexed drawings, which are not necessarily to scale:

[0018] Fig. 1 is an orthogonal view of a stack of overlapping objects with overlapping RFID devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0019] Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the objects of the stack of Fig. 1;

[0020] Fig. 3 is a plan view of part of one of the RFID devices on the objects of the stack of Fig. 1;

[0021] Fig. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the RFID device of Fig. 3;

[0022] Fig. 5 is a plan view of part of one of the RFID devices on the objects of the stack of Fig. 1, an RFID device which has an antenna configuration that is a mirror image of the antenna configuration of the RFID device of Fig. 3;

[0023] Fig. 6 is a plan view of part of one of the RFID devices on the objects of the stack of Fig. 1, an RFID device which has an antenna configuration that is a rotated version of the antenna configuration of the RFID device of Fig. 3;

[0024] Fig. 7 is a plan view of another possible antenna configuration for one of the RFID devices on the objects of the stack of Fig. 1;

[0025] Fig. 8 is a plan view of still another possible antenna configuration for one of the RFID devices on the objects of the stack of Fig. 1;

[0026] Fig. 9 schematically illustrates magnetic and electric field positions for various RFID devices for overlapped devices in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0027] Fig. 10 is a plan view of another possible antenna configuration for one of the RFID devices on the objects of the stack of Fig. 1;

[0028] Fig. 11 is a plan view of yet another possible antenna configuration for one of the RFID devices on the objects of the stack of Fig. 1;

[0029] Fig. 12 is a plan view of still another possible antenna configuration for one of the RFID devices on the objects of the stack of Fig. 1;

[0030] Fig. 13 is a plan view of a web or sheet of RFID devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0031] Fig. 14 is a schematic view of a system and process for making the web or sheet of Fig. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Readability of overlapping radio frequency identification (RFID) devices on overlapping objects, such as RFID labels on stacked garments, is improved by having different antenna configurations for the overlapped RFID devices. Each pair of closest or adjacent overlapped RFID devices may have different respective antenna configurations. The different respective antenna configurations may be mirror images of one another, or may have the same shape, with a relative rotation between the two. The different antenna configurations may substantially fill an antenna-receiving portion that is located in the same relative location in each of the RFID devices, with the antenna-receiving portion covering most of an area of the RFID devices. Feedpoints of the different antenna configurations, for receiving a strap or interposer for coupling to the antenna configurations, are in the same relative location. The antenna configurations may be loop-slot configurations or other suitable configurations. By varying the antenna configurations of the RFID devices communication with the RFID devices is enhanced in that the devices interfere less with one another.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a stack 10 of objects 12a-12d having respective radio frequency identification (RFID) devices 14a-14d thereupon. Fig. 2 shows a single object 12, one of the objects 12a-12d, with its RFID device 14, one of the RFID devices 14a-14d. Figs. 3 and 4 show further details regarding the RFID device 14. The objects 12a-12d may be any of a wide variety of objects, examples being garments of various types, packages, and containers. The objects 12a-12d all may be substantially identical in size and shape. The objects 12a-12d form the stack 10 in the sense that the objects 12a-12d overlap one another, such as with the objects 12a-12d aligned with one another so that the objects 12a-12d substantially totally overlap one another. "Overlap," as the term is used herein, refers to one of the objects 12a-12d being above or below another of the other objects 12a-12d, in a space defined by a perpendicular projection of a major surface of the overall shape of individual of the objects 12a-12d. More particularly, overlapping may refer to covering at least part of a major surface. For example, different sized items can overlap one another but the RFID device of the respective items still overlap one another. The term "stacked" is used herein to refer to a situation where substantially-identically-sized items are overlapped in substantial alignment or where they are stacked and the RFID devices of the items overlap one another. Although the objects 12a-12d are shown overlapped and stacked vertically, it will be appreciated that overlapping and stacking, as the terms are used here, may be horizontal or in any other direction, or slightly splayed out of alignment of a stack or overlapping configuration.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, the RFID devices 14a-14d may be labels or tags, and may be substantially identical in size and shape to one another. The RFID devices 14a-14d are mechanically coupled to the objects 12a-12d at respective locations 16a-16d on or in the objects 12a-12d. The locations 16a-16d may all be substantially the same relative locations on the objects 12a-12b. That is, the locations 16a-16d may be substantially the same relative to some common reference location on the objects 12a-12d, such as corners of the objects 12a-12d, or centers or centers of surfaces of the objects 12a-12d. It should be understood that the locations 16a-16d may also vary on an item but that the devices 14a-14d would still overlap one another in the stack. Thus with the objects 12a-12d overlapped and aligned with one another (stacked), the RFID devices 14a-14d also may be substantially fully overlapped and aligned with one another. As explained in greater detail below, some of the RFID devices 14a-14d will have different configurations from other of the RFID devices 14a-14d, allowing them to have better performance when overlapped in the stack 10 of overlapping objects 12a-12d.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows one possible configuration of the layers of the RFID device 14. The layers shown are that of an RFID label, but it will be appreciated that other layer and tag configurations are possible. The RFID device 14 has an antenna configuration 20 on a substrate 22. The substrate 22 may be any of a wide variety of suitable materials for receiving the antenna configurations, such as suitable polymer materials and paper. The antenna configuration 20 may be any of a wide variety of known antenna configurations. A slot-loop configuration, such as illustrated in Fig. 3, is one possible configuration for the RFID device's antenna. Other possible configurations include loop antennas, dipole antennas, slot antennas, and combinations of the foregoing types.

[0036] The antenna configurations 20 of different of the RFID devices 14a-14d may be at the same relative location on the RFID devices 14a-14d. The antenna configurations 20 of different of the RFID devices 14a-14d may substantially fill the antenna-receiving positions of the devices 14a-14d.

[0037] An interposer or strap 26 includes a chip or integrated circuit 28 and conductive leads 30. The conductive leads 30 are electrically coupled to the chip 28, such as through conductive contacts on the bottom of the chip 28. The conductive leads 30 are used to electrically couple the chip 28 to the antenna configuration 20 at feedpoints 32 of the antenna configuration 20. The electrical coupling may be by a direct electrically-conductive path between the chip 28 and the antenna configuration 22. Alternatively, part of the electrical connection may involve indirect coupling, such as by capacitive coupling or magnetic coupling (or a combination of both magnetic and capacitive coupling). The interposer or strap 26 may have additional structures, for example having an interposer substrate that supports the conductive leads 30. The interposer 26 may be attached to the antenna configuration 20 by use of a suitable conductive or non-conductive adhesive. The attachment may be in a faceup mode, with the chip 28 away from the antenna configuration 20, as is illustrated in Fig. 4. Alternatively the interposer 26 may be attached in a face-down configuration, with the chip 28 attached to the surfaces of the conductive leads 30 that face the antenna configuration 20.

[0038] A printable covering layer 36 overlies the interposer 26 and the antenna configuration 20. The covering layer may have a thinned portion 40 located where the covering layer 36 overlies the interposer 26. The thinned portion 40 may be formed by skiving a material of the covering layer 36 to remove material and thus to reduce thickness. Alternatively, the thinned portion 40 may be formed by locally pressing the material of the covering layer 36, calendaring the material to reduce its thickness. The covering layer 36 may be many of a printable material, such as paper. The interposer 26 may be located on the RFID device 14 such that the interposer 26 is located away from the area of the covering layer 36 where the covering layer 36 is to be printed. This is illustrated in Fig. 2, which shows printed matter 42 located away and not overlying from the interposer 26 of the RFID device 14. It will be appreciated that other layers and/or coatings may be added above or below the covering layer 36. For example coatings or additional layers may be used to prevent water or other contaminants from reaching the antenna 20 and the interposer 26. The covering layer 36 may be attached to the substrate 22 by use of an adhesive or other suitable attachment mechanisms.

[0039] A bottom surface of the substrate 22 is covered with an adhesive layer 44. A release layer 46 is used to cover the adhesive layer 44 prior to use of the RFID device 10. The adhesive 44 may be many of a suitable variety of adhesives, such as pressure sensitive adhesives, temperature-activated adhesives, or rewettable adhesives. The release layer 46 may be removed prior to adhering the RFID device 14 to the object 12.

[0040] At least some of the RFID devices 14a-14d have different antenna configurations than other of the RFID devices. This is done to reduce the near-field interaction between the overlapping RFID devices 14a-14d. Since the RFID devices 14a-14d overlap one another in the stack 10, the RFID devices 14a-14d interact with one another in the near field. If all of the RFID devices 14a-14d were identical, the near field interactions between the devices 14a-14d would be relatively strong. This near field interaction between the devices 14a-14d may be reduced by shifting the relative locations of the points of high magnetic and electric field on the antenna configurations 20 of some of the RFID devices 14a-14d. In doing so it is desirable to maintain similar (or at least acceptable) far field performance for all of the RFID devices 14a-14d. In addition it is desirable to have a common mounting location for placing the interposer 26 for each of the RFID devices 14a-14d. Having a common mounting location facilitates manufacture of the RFID devices 14a-14d, and provides a consistent relative location for the thinned covering layer portion 40, or for any bump or other irregularity in the RFID devices 14a-14d caused by the presence of the devices interposer or strap 26.

[0041] The term "far field" is used in contrast to the "near field" that is closer to antenna. Both terms describe the fields around an antenna (or any other electromagnetic radiation source). In a three region model, the far field is where the dominant terms in Maxwell's equation are those proportional to 1/r, where r is the distance from the antenna (or other radiation source). The near field encompasses a reactive field or Fresnel zone, where the dominant terms are proportional to 1/r³, and a near radiation field or transition zone, where the dominant terms are proportional to 1/r². The boundary between the near field and the far field is often taken to be (and may be considered herein as) a distance from the antenna equal to λ/2π, where A is the wavelength of the radiation being emitted by the antenna. Further details regarding the boundary between the near field and the far field may be found in Capps, Charles, "Near field or far field?," EDN, August 16, 2001, available at www.edn.com/contents/images/150828.pdf.

[0042] "Proximity coupling" or "proximity field coupling" occurs at a range that goes beyond near field coupling, beyond the reactive near field and the radiating near field to include a farther region in which sufficient energy may be transferred to operate tags via a distributed read structure. As noted above, the boundary between the near field and the far field is often taken to be a distance from the antenna equal to λ/2π, where λ is the wavelength of the radiation being emitted by the antenna. However it should be realized that sufficient energy is available to operate a RFID device designed to couple via magnetic or electric field coupling at ranges much greater than this depending on the distributed antenna design and power input via the coupler. It is commonly understood that the region where powering via a primarily single field component, retaining the advantageous characteristics of near field coupling, is possible out to approximately 1 wavelength away from the read system. Therefore proximity coupling may be defined as extending out to a range of about 1 wavelength of energy emitted, away from the read system.

[0043] Although the proximity region as defined herein extends beyond the near field region as defined above, the term "far field" will be used herein at times to refer to the region beyond the proximity region where proximity coupling occurs. Thus "far field," as used herein, thus may refer to either beyond the near field or beyond the proximity field (which includes the near field region, but extends farther than the near field region).

[0044] Fig. 5 shows an RFID device 14' that has an antenna 20' that is a mirror image of the antenna configuration 20 of the RFID device 14 (Fig. 3). The RFID device 14' has feedpoints 32' that are in the same relative location as the feedpoints 32 of the RFID device 14. Thus the interposers 26 and 26' of the RFID devices 14 and 14' may be placed in the same relative locations on the devices, despite the different antenna configurations of the two devices 14 and 14'. Use of mirror image antenna configurations 20 and 20' provides different routes of locations for the electric and/or magnetic field high-value "hot spots." This reduces the interaction between the devices 14 and 14' when they are overlapped, relative to a situation of overlapping devices having identical antenna configurations.

[0045] Fig. 6 shows another alternate antenna configuration, an antenna configuration 20" that is the same as the antenna configuration 20, but rotated 180°. The feedpoints 32" for the antenna configuration 20" are in the same relative location as the corresponding feedpoints 32 and 32' for the RFID devices 14 and 14' (Figs. 3 and 5). It will be appreciated that the RFID device 14" may be different from a mere rotation of the RFID device 14. The devices 14 and 14" may have printed material there upon that relies upon orientation when the devices 14 and 14" are placed on objects 12. Mere rotation of the entire RFID device 14 may result in upside down printed material.

[0046] Fig. 7 shows an RFID device 54 with an antenna 60 that differs completely in its configuration from the antenna configuration 20 of the RFID device 14 (Fig. 3). An interposer 66 of the device 54 is coupled to the antenna 60 at feedpoints 72 that may correspond in relative location to the feedpoints 32 of the RFID device 14. Fig. 8 shows an RFID device 74 with yet another configuration for its antenna 80. An interposer 86 of the device 74 is coupled to the antenna 80 at feedpoints 92 that may have the same relative location as that of the feedpoints 32 and 72.

[0047] Fig. 9 schematically shows the fields set up by operation of three successive overlapped RFID devices 14a, 14b, and 14c. The near-field magnetic field loops 94a, 94b, and 94c of the RFID devices 14a, 14b, and 14c are in different positions. The high points 96a, 96b, and 96c of the near-field electric fields of the RFID devices 14a, 14b, and 14c may also be in different positions. However, the different positions for the high points 96a, 96b, and 96c may not have any substantially impact on the far field readability of the RFID devices 14a, 14b, and 14c. That is, the effect of the variations in the position of the near-field electric field behavior of the RFID devices 14a, 14b, and 14c may be insubstantial. However, the difference in positions for the magnetic field loops 94a, 94b, and 94c may significantly reduce the undesirable near-field interaction between the RFID devices 14a, 14b, and 14c.

[0048] With reference now to Fig. 10, an RFID device 114 includes an interposer or strap 126 has a chip 128 that is coupled to an antenna configuration 120 that includes an antenna central portion 122 and multiple antenna end portions 124 and 125. The antenna end portions 124 and 125 are coupled to different inputs of the chip 128, and may both be used simultaneously for communication involving the RFID device 114. The antenna end portions 124 and 125 may each have different configurations, and correspondingly placed end portions of different RFID devices may have different configurations. The RFID devices 114' and 114", shown in Figs. 11 and 12, have alternative antenna configurations 120' and 120" with different end portions 124' and 124" from those for the end portion 124 of the device 114. The end portions 125' and 125" may have the same or different configuration from that of the end portion 125. In addition, the configuration of antenna central portions 122' and 122" may be different from that of the antenna central portion 122. For example, one or both of the antenna central portions 122' and 122" may be a mirror image of the antenna central portion 122.

[0049] In order to reduce the near-field interaction, it may be sufficient for adjacent devices to have a different configuration in one of the antenna end portions or antenna central portion. In the illustrated embodiment there are eighteen possible antenna configurations, with three independent configurations for each of the antenna end portions, and two configurations for the antenna central portion. The large number of possible configurations reduces the chance that randomly-selected adjacent devices will have undesirable near-field interactions with one another. It will be appreciated that a greater or lesser number of antenna possible antenna configurations may be utilized.

[0050] RFID devices with the various antenna configurations shown in Figs. 3 and 5-12 may be formed on a web or sheet 200, such as shown in Fig. 13. RFID devices 14a-14d from the web or sheet 200 may be singulated, physically separated from the web or sheet 200 such as by cutting, and mechanically coupled to successive objects 12 (Fig. 1), which are then stacked to form the stack 10 (Fig. 1). The web or sheet 100 may be configured such that successive of the RFID devices 14a-14d have non-identical antenna configurations. The antenna configurations of adjacent devices of the web or sheet 200 may be mirror images of one another, may be rotated relative to one another, or may have other non-mirror-image and non-rotation differences in antenna configuration. The use of different antenna configurations and successive RFID devices, and on successive overlapped objects, may reduce undesirable near-field interactions between the RFID devices. Reducing these near-field interactions may improve the readability of the RFID devices in the far field.

[0051] Fig. 14 illustrates a roll-to-roll process for forming a web 200 of RFID devices. The web 200 begins at a supply roll 204. Antennas are deposited on the web 200 using an antenna formation device such as a printer 210. A placing device 214 is then used to place interposers 26 at the feedpoints of the antennas 20. The interposers 26 may be placed from an interposer web 220. Finally, the web 200 is wound up on a take-up roll 224.

[0052] Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a "means") used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

Claims

1. A method of mechanically coupling RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) with a plurality of objects (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), wherein the method comprises:

applying at least one covering layer (36) over each of the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d);

placing respective radio frequency identification (RFID) devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) on the objects (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d); and

aligning the objects (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) in an overlapping configuration;

wherein the aligning causes the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) and the antenna configurations (20, 20', 20") to align and to overlap each other; and

wherein adjacent overlapped RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) have different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20") from one another and all of the antenna configurations (20, 20', 20") have the same relative feed point (32, 32', 32") location for feed points (32, 32', 32") for coupling interposers (26) of the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) to the antenna configurations (20, 20', 20").

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the aligning includes stacking the objects (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) one on another.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the placing includes placing the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) at the same relative location on all of the objects (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein all of the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) have the same relative antenna location for their respective antenna configurations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20") are substantially mirror images of one another.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20") is a rotated version of another of the different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20").

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20") is neither a rotated version nor a mirror image version of the another of the different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20").

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the placing includes taking the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) from a web or sheet (200) of RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein adjacent of the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) on the web or sheet (200) have the different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20").

10. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device web or sheet (200) for mechanically coupling RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) with a plurality of objects (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), said web or sheet comprising:

multiple RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) formed on a sheet or web, each with a covering layer (36) provided over the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d);

wherein each of the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) may be singulated, physically separated from the web or sheet and mechanically coupled to one of the plurality of objects (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), and each RFID device (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) has an antenna-receiving position at the same relative location and in alignment with one another; and

wherein adjacent of the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) include different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20") that each substantially fill the antenna-receiving positions and wherein all of the antenna configurations (20, 20', 20")have the same relative feedpoint (32, 32', 32") location for feedpoints (32, 32', 32") for coupling interposers (28) of the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) to the antenna configurations (20, 20', 20").

11. The web or sheet (200) of claim 10, wherein one of the different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20") is a rotated version of another of the different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20").

12. The web or sheet of claim 10, wherein one of the different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20") is neither a rotated version nor a mirror image version of the another of the different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20").

13. The web or sheet of claim 10,
wherein the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) include respective chips (28) coupled to the respective antenna configurations (20, 20', 20");
wherein each of the antenna configurations (20, 20', 20") includes multiple antenna end portions coupled to respective inputs of the chips (28); and
wherein the different end portions differ from one another in configuration of at least one of the end portions.

14. A group of RFID-tagged objects made by applying the steps of the method in claim 1, comprising:

multiple of the objects (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) that overlap one another;

wherein the objects (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) have respective radio frequency identification (RFID) devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) mechanically coupled to them;

wherein the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) overlap and are aligned with one another; and

wherein at least some of the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) have different antenna configurations (20, 20', 20")than other of the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) and wherein all of the antenna configurations (20, 20', 20") have the same relative feedpoint (32, 32', 32") location for feed points (32, 32', 32") for coupling interposers (26) of the RFID devices (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) to the antenna configurations (20, 20', 20").

15. The group of RFID-tagged objects of claim 14, wherein the objects (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) are stacked, being substantially aligned in their overlapping.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zum mechanischen Verbinden von RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) mit einer Vielzahl von Objekten (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), wobei das Verfahren umfasst:

Aufbringen wenigstens einer Überzugsschicht (36) über jede der RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d);

Anordnen jeweiliger Funkfrequenzidentifikations- (RFID-) Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) auf den Objekten (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d); und

Ausrichten der Objekte (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) in einer überlappenden Anordnung;

wobei die Anordnung bewirkt, dass die RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) und die Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") sich ausrichten und miteinander überlappen; und

wobei benachbarte überlappte RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) voneinander verschiedene Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") haben und alle Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") die gleiche relative Zuleitungspunktstelle (32, 32', 32") für Zuleitungspunkte (32, 32', 32") haben, um Interposer (26) der RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) mit den Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") zu verbinden.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Ausrichten das Stapeln der Objekte (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) übereinander umfasst.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Anordnen das Anordnen der RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) an der gleichen relativen Stelle auf allen Objekten (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) umfasst.

4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei alle RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) die gleiche relative Antennenstelle für ihre jeweiligen Antennenanordnungen haben.

5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei die verschiedenen Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") im Wesentlichen Spiegelbilder voneinander sind.

6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei eine der verschiedenen Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") eine gedrehte Version einer anderen der verschiedenen Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") ist.

7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei eine der verschiedenen Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") weder eine gedrehte Version noch eine Spiegelbildversion der anderen der verschiedenen Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") ist.

8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Anordnen das Abnehmen der RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) von einer Bahn oder Platte (200) mit RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) umfasst.

9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, wobei benachbarte RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) auf der Bahn und der Platte (200) die verschiedenen Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") haben.

10. Funkfrequenzidentifikations- (RFID-) Vorrichtungsbahn oder Platte (200) zum mechanischen Verbinden von RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) mit einer Vielzahl von Objekten (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), wobei die Bahn oder die Platte umfasst:

mehrere RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d), die auf einer Platte oder Bahn ausgebildet sind, wobei jede eine Überzugschicht (36) über den RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) bereitgestellt hat;

wobei jede der RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) vereinzelt, physikalisch von der Bahn oder der Platte getrennt und mechanisch mit einem der Vielzahl von Objekten (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) verbunden werden kann, und jede RFID-Vorrichtung (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) eine Antennenaufnahmeposition an der gleichen relativen Stelle und in Ausrichtung miteinander hat; und

wobei benachbarte der RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) verschiedene Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") umfassen, welche die Antennenaufnahmepositionen jeweils im Wesentlichen füllen, und wobei alle Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") die gleiche relative Zuleitungspunktstelle (32, 32', 32") für Zuleitungspunkte (32, 32', 32") haben, um Interposer (26) der RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) mit den Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") zu verbinden.

11. Bahn oder Platte (200) nach Anspruch 10, wobei eine der verschiedenen Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") eine gedrehte Version einer anderen der verschiedenen Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") ist.

12. Bahn oder Platte (200) nach Anspruch 10, wobei eine der verschiedenen Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") weder eine gedrehte Version noch eine Spiegelbildversion der anderen der verschiedenen Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") ist.

13. Bahn oder Platte nach Anspruch 10,
wobei die RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) jeweilige Chips (28) umfassen, die mit den jeweiligen Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") verbunden sind;
wobei jede der Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") mehrere Antennenendabschnitte umfasst, die mit jeweiligen Eingängen der Chips (28) verbunden sind; und
wobei die verschiedenen Endabschnitte sich voneinander im Aufbau wenigstens eines der Endabschnitte unterscheiden.

14. Gruppe von Objekten mit RFID-Etiketten, die durch Anwenden der Schritte des Verfahrens in Anspruch 1 hegestellt sind, die umfasst:

mehrere der Objekte (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), die einander überlappen;

wobei die Objekte (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), jeweilige mit ihnen mechanisch verbundene Funkfrequenzidentifikations- (RFID-) Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) haben;

wobei die RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) überlappen und miteinander ausgerichtet sind; und

wobei wenigstens einige der RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) andere Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") als andere der Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") haben, und wobei alle der Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") die gleiche relative Zuleitungspunktstelle (32, 32', 32") für Zuleitungspunkte (32, 32', 32") haben, um Interposer (26) der RFID-Vorrichtungen (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) mit den Antennenanordnungen (20, 20', 20") zu verbinden.

15. Gruppe von Objekten mit RFID-Etiketten nach Anspruch 14, wobei die Objekte (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) gestapelt sind, wobei sie in ihrer Überlappung im Wesentlichen ausgerichtet sind.

Revendications

1. Procédé de raccordement mécanique de dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) à une pluralité d'objets (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), dans lequel le procédé comprend :

l'application d'au moins une couche de recouvrement (36) sur chacun des dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) ;

le placement de dispositifs d'identification par radiofréquence (RFID) respectifs (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) sur les objets (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) ; et

l'alignement des objets (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) dans une configuration chevauchante ;

dans lequel l'alignement provoque l'alignement et le chevauchement des dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) et des configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") ; et

dans lequel des dispositifs RFID adjacents qui se chevauchent (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) ont différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") les uns des autres et l'ensemble des configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") ont le même emplacement de point d'alimentation relatif (32, 32', 32") pour des points d'alimentation (32, 32', 32") pour le raccordement d'interposeurs (26) des dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) aux configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20").

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'alignement inclut l'empilement d'objets (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) les uns sur les autres.

3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le placement inclut le placement des dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) au même emplacement relatif sur l'ensemble des objets (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d).

4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'ensemble des dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) ont le même emplacement d'antenne relatif pour leurs configurations d'antenne respectives.

5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") sont essentiellement des images miroir les unes des autres.

6. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel une des différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") est une version pivotée d'une autre des différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20").

7. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel une des différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") n'est ni une version pivotée, ni une version d'image miroir de l'autre des différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20").

8. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le placement inclut le prélèvement des dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) d'une bande continue ou feuille (200) de dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d).

9. Procédé selon la revendication 8, dans lequel des dispositifs RFID adjacents (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) sur la bande continue ou feuille (200) ont les différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20").

10. Bande continue ou feuille (200) de dispositifs d'identification par radiofréquence (RFID) pour le raccordement mécanique de dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) à une pluralité d'objets (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), ladite bande continue ou feuille comprenant :

de multiples dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) formés sur une bande continue ou feuille, chacun avec une couche de recouvrement (36) prévue sur les dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) ;

dans laquelle chacun des dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) peut être isolé, séparé physiquement de la bande continue ou feuille et raccordé mécaniquement à un de la pluralité d'objets (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) et chaque dispositif RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) a une position de réception d'antenne au même emplacement relatif et en alignement les uns avec les autres ; et

dans laquelle des dispositifs RFID adjacents (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) incluent différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") qui remplissent essentiellement chacune les positions de réception d'antenne et dans laquelle l'ensemble des configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") ont le même emplacement de point d'alimentation relatif (32, 32', 32") pour des points d'alimentation (32, 32', 32") pour le raccordement d'interposeurs (28) des dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) aux configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20").

11. Bande continue ou feuille (200) selon la revendication 10, dans laquelle une des différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") est une version pivotée d'une autre des différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20").

12. Bande continue ou feuille selon la revendication 10, dans laquelle une des différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") n'est ni une version pivotée, ni une version d'image miroir de l'autre des différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20").

13. Bande continue ou feuille selon la revendication 10,
dans laquelle les dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) incluent des puces respectives (28) raccordées aux configurations d'antenne respectives (20, 20', 20") ;
dans laquelle chacune des configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") inclut de multiples portions d'extrémité d'antenne raccordées à des entrées respectives des puces (28) ; et
dans laquelle les différentes portions d'extrémité diffèrent les unes des autres dans la configuration d'au moins une des portions d'extrémité.

14. Groupe d'objets étiquetés par identification par radiofréquence réalisé par l'application des étapes du procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant :

de multiples objets (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) qui se chevauchent ;

dans lequel les objets (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) ont des dispositifs d'identification par radiofréquence (RFID) respectifs (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) raccordés mécaniquement à eux ;

dans lequel les dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) se chevauchent et sont alignés les uns avec les autres ; et

dans lequel au moins certains des dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) ont différentes configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") que d'autres des dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) et dans lequel l'ensemble des configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20") ont le même emplacement de point d'alimentation relatif (32, 32', 32") pour des points d'alimentation (32, 32', 32") pour le raccordement d'interposeurs (26) des dispositifs RFID (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) aux configurations d'antenne (20, 20', 20").

15. Groupe d'objets étiquetés par identification par radiofréquence selon la revendication 14, dans lequel les objets (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) sont empilés, étant essentiellement alignés dans leur chevauchement.

Drawing